Couch-bed



No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. C'. DRIVER. GOUGH BED.

No. 538,668. Patented May 7, 1895.

XMWZSE TME Norms FUER: o, Prgoroymo.. WASHINGTON. D. c,

' (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

C. DRIVER.

CUUUH BED.

No. 588,888. Patented MW 7, 1895.

K7T/@555mg 7? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES DRTvER, 0E BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

c'oUCH-BED.

SPECIFICATION formingv part of Letters Patent No. 538,668, dated May 7, 1895. Application filed November 6 1894. Serial No. 528,022. (No model.)

drawings, is a specification, like'letters on the.

drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve v that class of lounge or couch beds such as represented in UnitedStates patents granted to W. S. Bowie, Nos. 482,683, 497,798 and 497,749; and the invention consists in details of construction, having particular reference to the operating mechanism by means of which the bed is narrowed or widened, and to the means employed for holding the sides of the mattress when the bed is narrowed and used as a couch, the mattress at such times constituting the upholstery.

Figure l shows in plan view my improved lounge or couch-bed, the same being fully extended or widened and the mattress being removed; Fig. 2, a crosssection of the bed shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line a; az; Fig. 3, a similar cross-section showing the parts contracted or narrowed to serve the purpose as a couch; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the bed, the parts being extended and supplied with a mattress and head-rest; Fig. 5, a detail of a portion of the operating mechanism to be referred to; Fig. 6, a plan View of a modified form of bed; Fig. 7,acrosssection of the same, taken on the dotted line y y; Fig. 8, a similar cross-section showing the parts contracted or narrowed to serve as a couch; Fig. 9,-aside elevation of the modified form of bed.

The slatted frame of the bed which is made in such a manner as to be extended or retracted as desired comprises essentially three sections, a middle section and two side sections. The middle section consists of the head board a, provided with legs a', a', a foot board b, similarly constructed and a central longitudinal slat a2, rigidly connecting the head and foot boards together at points midway their length. The side sections are made substantially alike and each consists of two end pieces c, c, a side piece c', a slat c3, and corner blocks c2, all rigidly secured together, and for simplicity the corner blocks are extended to serve `as, legs for the section. The

'side sections are made of just sufficient length to occupy a position between the head and foot boards,l moving in` and out in suitable guideways provided vfor `them in said head and foot boards. y

The rigidly secured slats c3 occupy a plane withk the middle slat a2. v

The corner' blocks c2 are cut away for a short distance between the slat c8 and the side frail c to present a pocket to receive the sides 'of the mattress.

also with the outermost slats 03,'by flexible bands c5 or otherwise.

The bands c5 are of sufficient length, and the slats connected to them at equally distant points in such a manner, that when the bed is extended its full width said bands are drawn taut as represented in Figs. l and 2, but when the bed is narrowed said bands between the slats will fold as representedin Fig. 3.

As additional means of guiding and supporting the side sections I have herein provided each side section with an inwardly extended guide-bar c6, each section being herein represented as having three such guide-bars, secured to the outermost slat c3 or otherwise, and the inner ends of said guide bars move in guideways formed upon the under Side of the central slat a2.

As a means of extending or reti-acting the bed, which is done by moving the side sections toward and from the middle section, I have hereinA shown a single central operating shaft e, having its bearings in the head and` foot board, and also in a middle leg f depending from the Slat a2, if such leg is provided.

The central operating shaft e has secured to it at two or more points,'two arms e', projecting in opposite ways from the shaft, said arms being bent as shown in Fig. 2 in opposite ways, and to the extremities of said bent arms links e2 are connected, the opposite ends 2 4assess 'in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, one

half a revolution or thereabout, or into the position shown in Fig. 3, the links e2 will be drawn inward toward each other, and consequently the side section Will be drawn toward the middle section. The links e2 are bent at e5 to prevent contact with the shaft when drawn in.

The side rails c of each side section have hinged to their upper edges auxiliary or extension pieces c7, the hinges employed being made as spring hinges, and the sides of the mattress are turned down into the pockets formed by the side rails c and by the auxiliary spring actuated strips c7. These spring actuated strips exert a certain pressure on the mattress which assists in holding it in place.

A curved strip b3, see Fig. 4, is connected to the top of the foot board b, also by spring hinges extending inwardly or toward the head of the bed, and forming a recess which receives the foot of the mattress. This strip may be used whether the bed is retracted or extended.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a middle section n, and two side sections fn', are provided, but the side sections instead of sliding in and out with relation to the middle section, are pivotally connected to said middle section at n2, and said pivoted side sections are provided with legs n3 which are hinged thereto, and adapted to be turned up or folded against the side section lengthwise thereof, and a central operating shaft n4 is provided having bent arms 07,5 projecting from it, the extremities of which are connected with links a6, which are in turn connected loosely with the side section, so that by turning said shaft n4 the side sections will be swung on their pivotal connections.

To simultaneously fold the legs n3, by means of the central operating shaft, I have herein shown the legs of each section connected by a cord nl, which passes over a pulley ln3, supported by the side sections, the ends of the cords n? of each section being joined together, and then attached to an eccentric disk 12,9, which is rigidly secured to the shaft n4. By turning the shaft n4, the legs will begin to fold just as or previous to the movement of the side sections.

I claim- 1. In a couch bed, a collapsible spring-supporting frame, comprising a middle section, and two side sections movable toward and from the middle section to narrow and widen the bed, combined with the central operating shaft e, having its bearings in the end of the middle section, a pair of arms e located at or near each end of said shaft projecting in opposite ways, and links e2 connecting the extremities of said arms with the movable side sections, substantially as described.

2. In a couch bed, a collapsible spring-supporting frame, comprising a middle section, and two side sections movable toward and from the middle section to narrow and Widen the bed, combined with the central operating shaft e, a pair of bent arms e located at or near each end of said shaft projecting in opposite ways, and links c2, bent as shown, connecting the extremities of said bent arms with the movable side sections, substantially as described.

3. In a couch bed, a collapsible spring-supporting frame, comprising a middle section, and two side sections movable with relation thereto, a mattress, and pockets extending lengthwise the side sections, which receive the sides ot' the mattress, combined with spring lactuated strips c7, forming extensions of said pockets, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES DRIVER.

W'itnesses:

B. J. Novus, FLORENCE H. DAVIS. 

